Posts Tagged ‘Tebow’

Tim Tebow

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

What an outstanding testimony of faith Tim Tebow has! I am very impressed with this young man. Being an Ohio State graduate, I sometimes had difficulty pulling for him on the football field!  But I always pull for him personally.  He displays character constantly.

Tim makes no secret of his profession of faith in Christ. His parents are Baptist missionaries. He serves the Lord frequently off the football field. He uses the platform of fame which football has given him to promote the faith in which he believes.

It is remarkable that such an outstanding individual should have such a clear-cut personal testimony regarding abortion. When his mother was carrying Tim, she was advised to have an abortion. Now he is prepared to promote a pro-life message — on a TV commercial during the Super Bowl. The pro-life ad is sponsored by the outstanding ministry of Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family. This has sent all kinds of people — from liberals to sports journalists — into a widespread debate. To put it mildly, quite a few people are upset.

One of my favorite local sports journalists is Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. Mike has been upset over the Tim Tebow pro-life ad. I sent Mike a note. I told him how much I usually like what he has to say — but that he is barking up the wrong tree, IMHO. Mike was critical of Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family, as well as Tebow. I pointed out that Tim Tebow has every right to stand up publicly for a value he believes in — as much as the multiplicity of Hollywood and sports celebrities who frequently stand up for liberal causes. I also pointed out to Mike that Dr. Dobson is not a “whacko.” Dobson is a very responsible evangelical leader with a long track record of sensible and responsible ministry.  Yes, he is a conservative Bible-believer.  But so am I!

For one, I cannot wait to see the Tim Tebow ad. I will be watching the Super Bowl this Sunday night!

Football

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

A sports columnist for a Fort Myers newspaper recently criticized Tim Tebow, in particular, and all evangelical athletes, in general, for their efforts to glorify God and give testimony about God in the sports realm. He wrote that he doesn’t care if he ever again hears another athlete publicly thank God!

I have never met Tim Tebow, but I have been particularly impressed with his public testimony on behalf of his faith — a faith which I obviously share. I have never known Tim to pray for a victory, or to give God credit for giving the Gators a victory. He does give God credit for enabling him to perform and blessing his team as they give their best effort. Many athletes do that, and I applaud them for making that effort.

All of us should strive to give testimony and bring glory to God in whatever venue God places us. And I have no problem with people of other faiths doing the same thing. I believe the Gospel will hold its own under scrutiny, along side any other faith.

For years, the Muslim faith has found an outward expression through sports in America. Many of us remember when the boxer, Cassius Clay, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and we remember when the basketball star, Lew Alcindor, changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I do not recall much outcry against their right to do so. Nor is there any reason to fret over evangelical Christians expressing themselves in the world in which they live.